McCluskey accuses Osborne of Frankenstein economics

McCluskey accuses Osborne of Frankenstein economics

25 November 2015

Len McCluskey, the leader of Britain’s largest union, Unite accused the chancellor of a Frankenstein like experiment that puts his ideological commitment to a surplus above the needs of the British people

Responding to the Comprehensive Spending Review, Len McCluskey Unite general secretary said: “Like some economic Dr Frankenstein, George Osborne is conducting some wild experiment on the UK economy and the living standards of the British people.

“We have never before been in a place where a chancellor will pursue a surplus for no evident economic gain. This was a spending review that reflected his zeal not Britain’s ideals which will hurt businesses and people struggling to make ends meet.

“We heard nothing today from the chancellor about action to save our manufacturing and steel industries which are the bedrock of our economy. The business department has been reduced to rubble sending a signal that this government has no interest in developing the higher waged, higher skills economy we urgently need.

“What we did hear was a sleight of hand on tax credits which will see 140,000 families on Universal Credit suffer a full cut now and falling incomes for many more from 2018. The attack on affordable housing and housing benefit will condemn people to in-work poverty. Once again, with further education being squeezed, our young people will feel only the cold shoulder of this government when what they need is a helping hand.

“If Osborne hits his surplus in 2020, even by one penny, it will be because he has razed to the ground the support and services we all rely on to keep our society safe and functioning. Instead he should be using historically low interest rates to invest our way to real, not phoney growth, based on decent secure jobs.

“The country needs a statesman stewarding the economy through these tough times to secure a future fit for all, but instead has an ideologue putting his own job ambitions ahead of those of the nation. History will take a dim view of this chancellor’s time in office and expose his ideological zeal to cut, rather than invest, as his weakness.”

ENDS

For further information please contact Unite head of media and campaigns Alex Flynn on 020 3371 2066 or 07967 665869.

Notes to editors:

Unite is Britain and Ireland’s largest trade union with over 1.4 million members working across all sectors of the economy. The general secretary is Len McCluskey.